Synthesizer books: Difference between revisions

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=== ''The Synthesizer'' by Roland Corporation ===
=== ''The Synthesizer'' by Roland Corporation ===
2nd edition, Roland Corporation, 1979, {{ASIN|B001E88X88}}, 4 volumes, paperback<br/>
2nd edition, Roland Corporation, 1979, {{ASIN|B001E88X88}}, 4 volumes, paperback<br/>
[http://www.smg.org/stuff/The_Synthesizer.zip Electronic Music, Multichannel Recording and Practical Synthesis books]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20171113202334/http://www.smg.org/stuff/The_Synthesizer.zip Electronic Music, Multichannel Recording and Practical Synthesis books]


=== ''The Technique of Electronic Music'' by Thomas Wells ===
=== ''The Technique of Electronic Music'' by Thomas Wells ===
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* [http://www.wavemakers-synth.com/buchla/PaMtEO.zip Buchla music easel manual], also relates to synths in general
* [http://www.wavemakers-synth.com/buchla/PaMtEO.zip Buchla music easel manual], also relates to synths in general
* Digisound [http://www.digisound80.co.uk/digisound/other_documents/documents.htm Step by Step Guide to Synthesis]
* Digisound [http://www.digisound80.co.uk/digisound/other_documents/documents.htm Step by Step Guide to Synthesis]
* [http://www.samecoff.com/works.html Fundamentals of Music Technology: Subtractive Synthesis] with audio samples
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100708073450/http://www.samecoff.com/works.html Fundamentals of Music Technology: Subtractive Synthesis] with audio samples
* Nord Modular G2 [http://rhordijk.home.xs4all.nl/G2Pages/ Workshops and tutorials], also relates to synths in general
* Nord Modular G2 [http://rhordijk.home.xs4all.nl/G2Pages/ Workshops and tutorials], also relates to synths in general
* Sound On Sound magazine's [http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1997_articles/jun97/synthschool1.html Synth School]
* Sound On Sound magazine's [http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/1997_articles/jun97/synthschool1.html Synth School]
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* [https://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12812 Newb looking for 'Patching for dummies' kind of thing]
* [https://www.muffwiggler.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12812 Newb looking for 'Patching for dummies' kind of thing]
=== Music technology ===
=== Music technology ===
* [http://www.samecoff.com/works.html Basic Music Technology I & II]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100708073450/http://www.samecoff.com/works.html Basic Music Technology I & II]
=== Lists of books on other sites ===
=== Lists of books on other sites ===
* [http://www.synthesizers.com/books.html Books worth reading] at Synthesizers.com
* [http://www.synthesizers.com/books.html Books worth reading] at Synthesizers.com
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* [http://www.snap-dragon.com/synth_books.htm Synth Books] at www.snap-dragon.com
* [http://www.snap-dragon.com/synth_books.htm Synth Books] at www.snap-dragon.com
* [http://www.solorb.com/anhevn/synthbooks.txt Synth/MIDI/Analog/Acoustic Bibliography] by Mark Frazer Bower
* [http://www.solorb.com/anhevn/synthbooks.txt Synth/MIDI/Analog/Acoustic Bibliography] by Mark Frazer Bower
* The Synthesizer Network [http://www.analogue.org/tsn/books.htm Literature, CD´s and Videos] page, from 2011
* The Synthesizer Network [https://web.archive.org/web/20190613231744/http://www.analogue.org/tsn/books.htm Literature, CD´s and Videos] page, from 2011
* Music Thing Modular [http://musicthing.co.uk/modular/?cat=21 Reading List]
* Music Thing Modular [http://musicthing.co.uk/modular/?cat=21 Reading List]



Revision as of 23:19, 27 February 2021

Books about synthesizers and other electronic musical instruments. For these about Synth DIY electronics see Synth DIY books, and for more general books about electronics electronics books.

The A-Z of Analogue Synthesisers Part One: A-M by Peter Forrest

Susurreal Publishing, 1998, ISBN 0-9524377-2-4
The ultimate analog synth catalogue part one.

The A-Z of Analogue Synthesisers Part Two: N-Z by Peter Forrest

Susurreal Publishing, 2003, ISBN 0-9524377-3-2
The ultimate analog synth catalogue part two.

Advanced Programming Techniques for Modular Synthesizers edited by James J. Clark

2003, Online at nordmodularbook

Analog Days: The Invention and Impact of the Moog Synthesizer by Trevor Pinch

Harvard University Press, 2004, ISBN 0-674-01617-3, 384 pages

Analog Electronic Music Techniques in Tape, Electronic and Voltage-Controlled Synthesizer Studios by Joel Naumann and James D. Wagoner

1985, ISBN 0-02-873140-9

Analog Synthesis: The Newbie Guide by Reinhard Schmitz

Music Sales Ltd, 1999, ISBN 3-927954-37-3, 85 pages

The Art of Electronic Music by Tom Darter and Greg Armbruster

1983/1985, ISBN 0-688-03106-4

The Complete Guide to Synthesizers by Devarahi

Prentice Hall, 1982, ISBN 0-13-160630-1, Available at The Snowfields

The Development and Practice of Electronic Music by Jon Appleton and Ronald C. Perera

Prentice Hall, 1975, ISBN 0-13-207605-5, 208 pages
Especially chapter 4 by Joel Chadabe on The Voltage Controlled Synthesizer. In some ways similar to the Strange book, although not as extensive.[1]

Electronic Music: Systems, Techniques, Controls by Allen Strange

288 pages, McGraw-Hill Inc., 2nd revised edition, 1982, ISBN 0-697-03602-2
The 2nd edition has much more information than the 1st.[1]

Illustrated Compendium of Musical Technology by Tristam Cary

Faber & Faber, 1992, ISBN 0-571-15251-1, 544 pages. Simultaneously published in the US by Greenwood Press under the title Dictionary of musical technology, ISBN 0-313-28694-9.

Keyfax Omnibus by Julian Colbeck

MixBooks, 1996, ISBN 0-918371-08-2
Fairly comprehensive compendium of reviews of synths, samplers, organs and key controllers, from the Farfisa Compact circa mid-sixties, to the mid-nineties. Easy and fun to read, and a great reference. Nearly every entry has a B&W photo. Also look out for earlier editions from the eighties, where more obscure stuff is included.[2]

Die Klangwelt des Musiksynthesizers – Die Einfuehrung in die Funktions – und Wirkungsweise eines Modulsynthesizers'' by Dr. Bernd Enders

Franzis Verlag, 1985, ISBN 3-7723-7761-0 or ISBN 978-3-7723-7761-7 also at epos.uni-osnabrueck.de

Learning music with synthesizers by David Friend, Alan R. Pearlman and Thomas Piggot

Publisher: H. Leonard Pub. Corp, 1974, ASIN B0006CEUL2, 213 pages, Available at The Snowfields

Midi For Musicians by Craig Anderton

AMSCO Pubs, 1986, ISBN 0-8256-1050-8
May be considered a bit dated now. The full MIDI spec is in the back of the book.[2]

Music and the synthesizer by Bruce Graham

Argus Books, 1980, ISBN 085242695X, 142 pages

Music, Physics and Engineering by Harry F. Olson

Dover Publications Inc, 2003, ISBN 0486217698, 480 pages

The New Complete Synthesizer by David Crombie

Omnibus Press, 1986, ISBN 0711907013, 112 pages
A moderately technical but very clearly written book on how synthesizers work, highly recommended.[3]

Patch & Tweak - Exploring Modular Synthesis by Kim Bjørn, Chris Meyer

Bjooks Media, 2018, ISBN 9788799999514

Power Tools for Synthesizer Programming by Jim Aikin

2004, ISBN 0-87930-773-0

The Prophet from Silicon Valley: The Complete Story of Sequential Circuits by David Abernethy

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2015, ISBN 1-5121-9832-3, 274 pages

Push Turn Move - Interface Design in Electronic Music by Kim Bjorn

Bjooks Media, 2017, ISBN 9788799999507

Refining Sound – A Practical Guide to Synthesis and Synthesizers by Brian K. Shepard

Oxford University Press, 2013, ISBN 0-19-992296-9

Synthesizer Basics edited by Brent Hurtig

GPI Publications (Hal Leonard Pubs), 1984, ISBN 0-88188-714-5
Brilliant collection of articles that first appeared in Keyboard Magazine, most of them are by Robert Moog from the late 70s giving lucid explanations on topics such as Loudness and Attack Shaping, Principles Of Voltage Control, Phasers etc.[2]

The Synthesizer by Roland Corporation

2nd edition, Roland Corporation, 1979, ASIN B001E88X88, 4 volumes, paperback
Electronic Music, Multichannel Recording and Practical Synthesis books

The Technique of Electronic Music by Thomas Wells

2nd edition, Macmillan USA, 1981, ISBN 0-02-872830-0, 304 pages.
Available at Archive.org

Vintage Synthesizers by Mark Vail

Miller Freeman, 1993, ISBN 0-87930-603-3[2]

Welsh's Synthesizer Cookbook: Synthesizer Programming, Sound Analysis, and Universal Patch Book by Fred Welsh

3rd edition, 2006, ASIN B000ERHA4S, 128 pages
Great for bread and butter type stuff. Definitely more Moog based patches as opposed to Buchla/Serge etc. Has things like strings, bass, bells, leads, pianos etc.[1]

Non-English

Synthesizer: So funktioniert elektronische Klangerzeugung by Florian Anwander

PPV Medien GmbH, 2019, ISBN 3941531700

See also

References

Template:From Muff Wiggler wiki

  1. ^ a b c Muff Wiggler forum: Newb looking for 'Patching for dummies' kind of thing
  2. ^ a b c d The Synth-diy Archive, SDIY Wiki – books, April 2013
  3. ^ The ABCs of Synthesizers by Steven Powell, Music Educators Journal, Vol. 74, No. 4, pp. 27-31, Sage Publications, Inc. Dec. 1987

External links

Anything in-depth worth reading and longer than a page or two.

Sound and synthesizer theory

Patching

Music technology

Lists of books on other sites